Day 1 in Ireland, 2014

It had been a long trip, we had been traveling for over 24 hours and in the air a total of  11.  Everyone on the team was exhausted and ready and be done flying.  Then, through the clouds I saw my first glance of Ireland. After years of hoping and dreaming of going to Ireland I was finally about to land there, on a mission trip with my Grandma!  I had expected to be crazy with excitement, but after so much lack of sleep and so many altitude changes I was just dazed. I couldn't quite grasp that I was actually IN Ireland!!! Yes, I was excited, but mostly because I knew that we would be done flying soon. It wasn't until the next day when I was meeting "locals" that I actually realized my dream had come true.

 [First view of Ireland]

As the plane landed and we waited to get out, I thought over my first experience flying. They had served breakfast at 1 am Michigan time, in London I had gone sprawling into people while trying to stand in a packed trolley at 3 am, and I had attempted, but failed to sleep in the last 24 hours since leaving for the Detroit Airport.  This was quite the introduction to traveling by air!

[Irish country side on our way from the Dublin airport to Derry]

After trying to locate our luggage and waiting for our ride, we piled in a bus for the 2 hr. drive from Dublin to Derry.  Now, I got to experience my first of many drives on Irish roads! Lots of rolling hills, curvy roads, many cattle, strange road markings, and a few moments of fear as I thought fleetingly that we were driving on the wrong side of the road and were going to hit the car coming our way!

 [Each person got their own room with a sink, bed, closet, and table]

When we arrived in Derry right away they got us set up in our rooms. The housing was at a college dorm, each person had their own room and shared a kitchen, bathroom, and shower with 4 other people.  I was excited to see that they had stocked the kitchen and got some food, then went to take a nap.  Later that evening, we walked the board walk along the Foyle River.

[A view from the window of my room]